Olufemi Atoyebi, Yola

The National Centre for Disease Control on Friday said six persons have died of Lassa fever in Ondo, Bauchi and Kogi states while 25 new cases were confirmed in seven states.

The centre said this in its weekly report, saying the deaths and confirmed cases happened between February 11 and 17, 2019.

Among the states where deaths were recorded, Ondo had the highest casualty figure of three while two persons died of the disease in Bauchi. Also, Kogi recorded one death.

The NCDC added that another health care worker was affected in Edo State, bringing the number of health workers to 13, since the outbreak of the disease in the country.

The report said, “In the reporting week (February 11-17, 2019), 25 new confirmed cases were reported in Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Kogi and Kebbi  states.

“Six new deaths were recorded in Ondo, Bauchi, and Kogi states.

“From January 1 to February 17, 2019, a total of 1139 suspected cases have been reported from 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory, out of which 355 cases were confirmed positive.

“Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 75 deaths in confirmed cases.

“Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 21.1 per cent. Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi states and the FCT have recorded at least one confirmed case across 57 council areas.”

According to the NCDC, 88 patients are being managed at different facilities.

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